The Brainerd Fire Department Tuesday, June 9, officially put its newest fire truck into service.
Brainerd firefighters were joined by their families to ceremonially “push the truck into the station,” the fire department stated in a news release. The crew also transferred water from the old Ladder 2 into the new truck named Tower 20. Each of these traditions go back to the time of horse-drawn fire engines and wagons.
The new truck replaces two older ladder trucks. Highlights of the new truck include:
A 100-foot, mid-mount ladder with a platform;
A 2,000 gallons per minute water pump with 400 gallons of on-board water and 20 gallons of firefighting foam;
A platform equipped with dual water monitors mounted on both sides, allowing an open front for rescue or roof operations;
115 feet of additional ground ladders; and
Seating for six firefighters with five self-contained breathing apparatus seating positions.
The fire department reported taking the fleet from two ladder trucks down to one will decrease maintenance costs. Tower 20’s 100-foot ladder also has the highest value in Insurance Services Office ratings, meaning a better insurance rating for the whole community.
The Brainerd Fire Department covers nearly 260 square miles of both urban and rural areas, including residential, commercial and agricultural. Tower 20 is usable in all of these settings and offers a wide variety of options in each of these scenarios.
“Tower 20 isn’t just for urban multi-story complexes, it is also very useful in large residential home fires, large agricultural building fires, technical rescue situations including high angle rope rescue, trench rescue, silo and grain bin rescue, and a variety of others,” the release stated. “The Fire Department is grateful to be in a position to purchase this ladder truck as it continues to serve communities at the highest level.”
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